Terrell County has three towns: Dawson, Bronwood and Sasser. In Dawson, the county seat, the 1892 Terrell County Courthouse still anchors the square, and the houses around it have aged right along with the people living in them. Dawson's population peaked at 5,699 in 1980 and has dropped every decade since, reaching 4,414 by 2020.
That pattern shows up inside the homes we visit. Older, multi-level houses are often lived in by fewer people, and those people are getting older. This page walks through what the local homes mean for a stair lift, and where to look for help paying for one.
Most homes here fall into a few types: single-family homes, ranch-style homes, split-level homes and low-rise buildings. Each one points to a different kind of lift, so the first thing we do is look at the stairs themselves.
A single flight that runs straight from bottom to top usually takes a straight stair lift. These go in quickly because the rail can be cut to length rather than custom bent.
Split-level homes are different. They tend to have short runs of steps between levels, sometimes with a turn or landing. A turn or landing generally calls for a curved rail built to fit that staircase, or in some cases a lift on each short run.
A ranch-style home may have no indoor stairs at all. The trouble spot is often the steps up to the front or back door, and that is where an outdoor stair lift or a vertical platform lift can make sense.
Outdoor units are built to handle weather on their own, but placement still matters. We look at which entrance gets used most, how the steps sit against the house, and whether a wheelchair user needs to get in, which usually tips the choice toward a platform lift.
That second number is worth noting, because veterans may have access to VA housing grants that other homeowners do not.
Only 35.7% of residents own their homes. If you rent, talk with your landlord before any installation, since a stair lift attaches to the stair treads. Some of the help listed below also depends on owning the home.
Money is a real concern here. Median household income is $46,171 and the poverty rate is 33.3%, so many families cannot cover a lift out of pocket. That makes the public and nonprofit programs below worth a phone call before you decide.
Two programs in the list name home modifications as a covered service: the ICWP Medicaid waiver and the BAIN Center for Independent Living. The regional aging agency is the front door for older adults, and the VA grants are for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities.
Georgia also has statewide options to ask about, including the Home Access Program, the Credit-Able Loan Program and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics). The Southwest Georgia Regional Commission AAA at 335 W. Society Ave., Albany, can be reached at (229) 432-1124. Veterans can contact the Georgia Department of Veterans Service - Albany Veterans Field Service Office at 1704 S. Slappy Boulevard, Albany, at (229) 430-3567.
A Georgia Medicaid waiver that funds an in-home care plan for frail elderly or disabled residents who meet Medicaid financial rules and need a nursing-facility level of care. Stair lifts and home modifications are not listed among its services; call (866) 552-4464.
A Georgia Medicaid waiver for members ages 21-64 with a severe physical impairment or traumatic brain injury, and home modifications are a listed covered service. Call (866) 552-4464 to start.
The regional gateway for adults 60 and older and adults with disabilities in a 14-county area that includes Terrell County, offering counseling and referrals to in-home services. Its source does not list stair lifts or home modifications; call (866) 552-4464.
A nonprofit serving people with disabilities across 25 southwest Georgia counties, including Terrell County, and it lists home modifications among its services. Call (229) 246-0150.
Statewide independent living services for people with disabilities, delivered in southwest Georgia through the Bainbridge CIL, including adaptive housing services. Stair lifts are not named in its listing; call (844) 367-4872.
Federal grants for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities: SAH up to $126,526, SHA up to $25,350, and TRA up to $50,961 or $9,100 (FY2026). Stair lifts are not named on the VA's page, so ask the Albany Veterans Field Service Office at (229) 430-3567.
Older adults
335 W. Society Ave., Albany, 31701
Veterans
1704 S. Slappy Boulevard, Albany, 31701
Often, yes. Split-level homes have short runs between levels, and the right setup depends on whether those runs are straight or turn at a landing. A turn usually needs a curved rail, while separate straight runs may each get their own lift.
The ICWP Medicaid waiver serves members ages 21-64 with a severe physical impairment or traumatic brain injury and lists home modifications as covered. BAIN also serves people with disabilities in Terrell County and lists home modifications. Call ICWP at (866) 552-4464 or BAIN at (229) 246-0150.
Start with the Southwest Georgia Area Agency on Aging, which serves adults 60 and older in Terrell County. The toll-free line is (866) 552-4464, and the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission AAA office in Albany is at (229) 432-1124.
The VA's SAH, SHA and TRA grants pay for home adaptations for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, but the VA's page does not name stair lifts. Ask the Albany Veterans Field Service Office at (229) 430-3567 whether your plan qualifies.
If the steps into the house are the problem, an outdoor stair lift or a vertical platform lift at the entrance may be the answer. A platform lift is the usual choice when a wheelchair is involved.
Its listed services are case management, adult day care, alternative living services, personal care, home-delivered meals and respite care. Stair lifts and home modifications are not listed, so call (866) 552-4464 to ask about your plan.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
